Amidst the ongoing saber-rattling over the future of the state's homeowners' insurance system, auto insurers last year watched the sunset — and then the confused return — of no-fault and mandatory PIP after years of hard-fought battles to try and reform the system. Now a new storm is churning that could soon spell more choppy waters for auto insurers in the Sunshine State, and this one takes aim at unsuspecting drivers and their insurers at their most vulnerable time — immediately after an auto accident.

Throughout Florida, more and more local governments are implementing a hidden fee for providing emergency response services. Everything from setting out cones, directing traffic, and completing a police report, to dousing an engine fire and extricating severely injured accident victims using the Jaws of Life could soon become a billable service.

As lawmakers in Tallahassee slash property taxes, local governments are faced with historic budget crunches. In order to avoid the difficult work of prioritizing and cutting spending, some cities have decided to charge a fee when the police or fire department is called to respond. Some elected officials see these accident fees as an opportunity to increase revenues without formally raising taxes. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of American (PCI) sees these so-called fees as an Accident Tax.